What was a grassroots, community by community effort to ban those under 21 from being able to purchase smoking products is now being considered at the state level. Current Arkansas state law allows those 18 and older to purchase or use tobacco products.
State Rep. Lee Johnson of Greenwood filed House Bill 1519 last week. Rep. Johnson is a physician, and his bill has since been referred to the rules committee. The lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate is Missy Irvin of Mountain View.
The grassroots, community by community effort was considered in Mountain Home early last year, but failed to gain passage when the city council’s public safety committee declined to advance a proposed ordinance.
The effort to pass an ordinance in Mountain Home began last February when a group of eighth and ninth grade students made a presentation to the city council. The effort was organized by Students Working Against Tobacco or SWAT.
Following the group’s presentation, then-Mayor Joe Dillard asked the students for a copy of an ordinance adopted by Helena-West Helena, used as an example by SWAT.
Then in April 2018, the students returned, presenting an ordinance to the council’s public safety committee. The proposal would have banned those under 21 from purchasing tobacco products, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes, vaping devices, wrapping papers or pipes.
While the measure failed to gain traction in Mountain Home, the Harrison Daily Times reports the City of Harrison and a small group of other communities might have been ahead of the curve. Harrison was among those adopting ordinances to raise the legal age to buy tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery devices to 21. The ban became effective in Harrison Jan. 1st.
Members of the youth group Ignite, which fights against substance abuse, approached the Harrison City Council with its own grassroots-level proposal.
Ignite members said Helena-West Helena and Phillips County proceeded Harrison’s adoption of a similar ordinance.
The group also approached the Boone County Quorum Court. However, the justices of the peace declined the offer, saying they felt the issue would best be approached at the state level.
Click here for a link to the bill.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI